Devil in a Kilt

I so enjoyed reading Devil in a Kilt! So wonderfully written. I couldn't put it down. And I believe this was Sue-Ellen's 1st novel. I'm definitely going to read the other books in this Mackenzie series. Loved it!

I really enjoyed getting lost in all of Welfonder's stories in this series. Her characters are Dynamic and will definitely stay with you. Different plots drive all of the stories and there were some extremely memorable scenes. I can't wait till her next one. A couple of things were annoying though. For one thing, these hero's thoughts don't stray far from their "Phallus." Which did make for frequent sexual situations, thus one of the reasons we all love the genre, so I'm not so sure I'm complaining. And secondly, I started to "skim" parts of the book (which I NEVER do). It's just that I found myself frequently at points where, for instance, the heroine will say something and then it's 12 paragraphs of anything the hero could possibly be thinking or feeling till he responds to her. Or five paragraphs in the middle of the conversation to describe how the shutters are rattling against the windows! And unfortunately, I'm not exaggerating. Having said that, I will still buy and devour anything and everything by this author. And would definitely recommend this series to be enjoyed mostly if read in order. Her first book is 1) Devil in a Kilt, then read 2) Bride of the Beast, then 3) Only for a Knight. And The MacLean Trilogy order is: 1) Knight in My Bed, 2) Master of the Highlands, and then 3) Wedding for a Knight. So you know where my tastes lie: For the absolute best in Highland romance I would recommend Julie Garwood's "The Bride," "The Wedding," "The Secret," "Ransom," and "Saving Grace." Karen Marie Moning, and Marsha Canham. For Medieval: Garwood's "The Prize," "Honor's Splendor," & "Gentle Warrior." Also Amanda Quick's "Mystique," "Desire," & anything by Kinley Macgregor a.k.a. Sherrilyn Kenyon.

I love a good Scottish romance, and when I found Sue-Ellen Welfonder, I found a new favorite. She researches, and travels to her sites. In fact, sometimes choosing the sites because the story comes to her there. At her website, she said that Duncan came to her while she was visiting Eilean Donan Castle, and "gave" her his story complete! My heartfelt thanks to Duncan MacKenzie and Sue-Ellen Welfonder for telling his tale so very well. Duncan is a the Black Stag, a man without a heart. His first wife, Cassandra, was a truly heartless witch with a capital "B!" She and Duncan's half brother, who could pass for his twin, managed to take his trust, his love, in fact, every good and decent thing in his life and pretty much destroy it. Now, he takes an innocent second wife; one with the second "sight." His sole purpose in doing so is to find out if his son Jamie, is in fact, his son or his half brother's. He doesn't want to really be married to her, he wants her to use her "sight" and then stay out of his way. Unfortunately, at his first sight of her, emotions were stirred that he thought were long dead. Now he fights them, himself, and her, at every step. While Linnet, with a grace, and a beauty she didn't know she had blossoming every day, is winning every heart at her new home, even the Laird's, and especially one small boy, by the name of Jamie! But though Cassandra is dead, her evil is not. And Kenneth, the wicked half brother is still alive. Will he win Linnet's heart, or is she too wise? And what of Marmaduke Strongbow, the scarred, but honorable ENGLISH (?) knight? Will Linnet find the love she has waited all of her life to find, waiting so patiently? Oh, please, do get this book! It is SO VERY worth the read! If you like things Scots, Romantical, historical, well-researched, and written by someone who so obviously loves the same and has a talent to bring a great story to paper - this is one book you DON'T want to miss. I'm just sorry it took me so long to find her.

Setting her quill to parchment, Ms. Welfonder has chosen to relate a tale straight from the Highlands of Scotland...Duncan Mackenzie known as the Black Stag... is a father who fears to love fully....Robbie an innocent child who is caught in a web of suspected parental infidelity and Linnet MacDonnell... who's powers of second sight may solve the myustery.Duncan wants to belive that Robbie is His son... and sends for Linnet.. hoping she will use her gift to find out the truth. But upon seeing the child... she has second thoughts about going through with it... Robbie's future depends on her answer...will the truth release Duncan from the chains of doubt or forever bind him in a prison of his own making??? Her rousing call to battle scene in the Great Hall with Duncan on the trestle table had me ready to grab a broom and soup ladle from the scullery and join the Mackenzies on the castle walls. She's created a wondrous tale and draw the reader back to the wild Scottish Highlands where love, adventure and suspense keep you on your bench waiting for her to continue her story.Keep your eye on Ms Welfonder and save a place on your keeper shelf for all of her upcoming books.

DEVIL IN A KILT is a strong, tightly-written medieval romance that I can heartily recommend to our library patrons. The main characters are sympathetically and realistically drawn and even the minor characters have a great deal of charm. Sexual scenes are piquant but not explicit, just the way my library patrons prefer them to be. The author has really done her research on this period. As a fan of the old Gothic romances, I particularly enjoyed a touch of the paranormal. Suspense, great characters, pleasurable shivers--this book has it all!A librarian from Montana

In her debut novel, Ms. Welfonder has painted a vivid picture of life in an early fourteenth century Scottish castle. Having despaired of ever being as beautiful as her six older sisters, Linnet MacDonnell has resigned herself to an arranged marriage to Duncan MacKenzie, laird of the MacKenzies, also known as the Black Stag for his fierceness in battle. But Linnet knows that Duncan only desires her as his wife for her ?sight? which will enable her to tell Duncan whether Robbie is his son or that of his evil half-brother, Kenneth. Linnet?s life at Eilean Creag, Duncan?s castle, is much improved from her existence under the roof of her drunken father. Duncan is kind to her, though he has made it clear from the start that he was interested in a marriage in name only and wished only for Linnet to care for Robbie and discover the identity of the boy?s father. Duncan?s inability to love again after the treachery of his first wife is an obstacle that only Linnet?s love can heal if he will but open his heart. Written with much emotion and details into the life in a fourteenth century Scottish castle, DEVIL IN A KILT is a thoroughly enjoyable historical. While the supporting characters add surprising depth to this novel, the love of the heroine proves that love can heal even the most hardened of hearts.